Scalper



Feb. 19, 1957 .1. GoLLBAcH 2,181,908

scALPER 2 sheds-sheet 1 Filed Julie 8, 1953 DDEICIEIEEIEIEI EIEDEIDDEIEINVENTOR.

/0550/7/ GOLLAc/f Feb. l19, 1957 J. GoLLBAcH SCALPER v 2 sheets-sheet aFiled June 8', 1953 INVENTOR. ./osfm aaAf/f BY www SCALPER JosephGollbach, Sacramento, Calif.

Application June 8, 1953, Serial No. 360,229

Claims. (Cl. 209-461) thathas worked to the bottom wall falls laterallythrough the perforations in the discs while the long pieces of foreignmaterial, straw etc. is intended to be moved over said bottom wall andto be discharged therefrom. Generally, the above elements are employedin the invention herein described.

Attempts Vto usel conventional scalpers to separate rice from the greenheavy rice straw have not been successful for a number of reasons, andshaker screens have been used. However, the vibration resulting fromtheu's'e of shaker type separators is so extreme as to bev detriment-alto the buildings in which they are used, and in addition, the desiredseparation has not been possible.

VIn theatternpts to use conventional scalpers for rice, Ithe green heavyrice straw and rice are fed from an elevator to the soalpers. A feedbelt in the elevator runs continuously and the material is fedV from theelevator to the scalpers.v VThe discs in the, sc alpers become cloggedup by lthe rice straw andrwhen this occurs the elevator is choked andlunless the system is quickly cleaned to permit the steady .movement ofthe straw and rice the' running of the beltwin the choked elevatorcauses heating that would likely result in causing a're, an' 'occurrencethat would be disastrous.

With the present invention, the scalping is continuous and efficientand, provision Vis made to keep the screens or discs clean and toprevent the material from choking the elevator and the scalper itself.

One of the main objects of the invention is the pro vision of a scalperhaving improved means and structure for keeping the strawfrom chokingthe scalper and the elevator that feeds the same.

Another object of the invention is the provision of elfectivemeans in avscalper for relieving the feed means from surplus material'fed theretoso that the material will not pack in the Velevator orfeed device andthus create aliaizardous condition.

Other objects and advantages will appear inthe description and in theydrawings.,

In the drawings,

Fig, 1 is av part-elevationalv and par-t sectional View of ascalperfshowing the present invention, the View being taken .from a sideYof the machine with the near side ofthe scalper housing removed.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken 4substantially alongline 2-2of"Fig'.1,.

Fig.' 3 isa fragmentarytop plan view of the feed vmeans of Fig.' lWithcertain parts broken away to show Structure.

nited rates Patent O y2,781,908 Patented Feb. 19, 1957 Fig. 4 is anenlarged fragmentary sectional view of the upperend of the rake in Fig.l.

Fig'. 5 isa sectional View -t-aken along line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

In detail, the scalper show-n in the drawings comprises a housingvhaving a top wall 1 (Fig. 1), front and rear side Walls 2, 3, andopposed end walls 4, 5, which walls together may form the frame membersfor supporting the working par-ts of the scalper.

Extending between end walls 4, 5, is a main horizontal shaft 6that'extendsat it-s'ends through bearings? that are carried byv said endWalls. This shaft has a plurality of pairs of spaced, perforated,circular, vertically disposedv discs 8 secured thereon.

Also secured on shaft 6 and slightly spaced from the opposite outersides of each pair of dises 8- areimperfora'te circular` discs 9. One ofthe discs 9 is common to the adjacent discs of adjacent pairs as seenAin Fig. 2.

An arcuately curved, elongated bottom wall-10 having a transverselyinverted U or V shaped strip 11. extending longitudinally thereof,extends across the space between the lower peripheral edges of each pairof discs 8, and-to points 12, 13a-bout atl opposite sides of the axis ofrotation o'fdiscs 8- or' of shaft 6. The bottom wall 1l)V is stationaryand is secured at its ends to the main housing, and a slight space isleft between the peripheral edges of the discs 8 and the marginalportionsof said bottom wall to' per-mit riceY to pass. The strip 11merely preventsy the lodgment of rice on' the bottom wall by divertingitto the spacesbetween the edges of the discs and the marginal portionsofthe bottom wall. i

Up to this point the structure described, is. virtually standard, exceptin the usual structure the point 1'3 where the bdttornwall endsissubstantially lower,

Extending upwardly from the bottom walls 10. at the level of point 12 isan outwardly inclined bottomwall 15 of a feed chute and a vertical wall16 is in upward con tinuation of the kupper end of said Wall 15 (Fig.l).

In spaced opposedrelation to wall 16 isa fron-t wall 17 and disposedbetween'l these walls 156, 17 is a shaft 2i? of a feed screw, whichshaft is journall'ed for rotation at its ends in. bearingsv supported bywall-s 4, 5. Shaft Ztl. is parallel with niain shaft 6; the oppositeends; of lth'eblad'es 2l, Z2 on said shaft 20 (Fig. 3): terminate attheir outer ends adjacent to end wall-S23, 24. These walls 23,; 2dextend to the discs 8 near the ends of lthe row of discs on shaft, andterminate at their upper ends in free edges 25 that are eveniwith`thelevel of the axis of shaft 20.

Blades Zi, 22 meet at the center of shaft- 26. andI are arranged to movematerial fed thereto from above in opposite outer directions towardwalls 23, 2e.

Box like partitions 26 ('Fig. l3) block'off thel spaces between theadjacent pairs of discs S, so that'mat'erial sliding down chute 15 willbe directed to the spaces be# tween the disc-s of each pair and will notenter the spaces between the adjacent discsof adjacent pairs.

A gate Sli-(Fig. l) is supported on the downwardlyL iiiclined uppersides of the partitions. 26 so as to regulate the amount-of material fedto the spaces betweenl the discs 8 of each pair. This gate is connectedby one or more armsv 31 with a shaft 32that, in turn, extends' throughthe wall 4 and the end of theshaft that projects from said wallA iy isprovided with a handle 33 (Fig, 3)',for actuation of the gate asdesired. T he lower the gateis moved on the partitions 26 the lessmaterial caribe fed to the spaces between the discsn of each pairthereof.

A constant relatively slow. speed movtorni is mounted onrthevhousingl(Fig. l) andthe drive shaft 35 of said motor carries-sprocket Wheelsy37, 38 thereon.,

A chain 39 connects thensprocket wheel 37 withy a sprocket wheely 40 onshaftZlf ofy thefeed screw anda v chain 4l4 connects threlsprocket 38.with a sproeketwheel 3 42 on shaft 6. Thus shafts 6, 20 are connectedwith the motor for actuation by the latter.

The opposite end of shaft 6 carries a sprocket wheel 60 (.Fig. 2) and anendless chain 61 extends thereover and 1n an upwardly inclined directionto a point spaced above and outwardly of the end 13 of bottom wall 10where said chain extends over sprocket wheel 62 on shaft 45. Shaft 45also carries sprocket wheels 44 which drive chains 43. Chains 43 extendbetween each pair of discs 8 and idle around spacers 34 which separatesaid discs at shaft 6. Shaft 45 is journaled in bearings carried bywalls 4, 5. A guard plate 47 extends between the upper run 48 and lowerrun 49 of chain 43 and around shaft 45 where said chain extends aroundeach of the sprocket wheels 44 (Fig. 4) to prevent straw, etc. fromwinding around the shaft 45. A cross frame member 53 supports said guardplates, which frame member may extend between the walls 4, 5.

i Equally spaced along the chain 43 are outwardly pro- Jecting fingersor forks 50 (Figs. 4, 5) which forks are secured to links of said chain.

Hingedly secured to bottom walls at points 13 where said walls terminateat the side of the shaft 6 opposite the feed screw, is an upwardlyextending apron 51. This apron is spaced at its uppermost portion belowthe lower run 49 of chain 43 and may be considered an upward extensionof said bottom walls 10. The apron curves outwardly and downwardly tofacilitate the movement of straw and the like thereover, and a removablepin 52 held in each of the end walls 4, 5 supports the apron in itsupwardly extending position, and upon removal of said pins the apron canbe dropped to facilitate access to the discs 8 when desired.

Secured to the top wall 1 and depending therefrom are baille or guardstrips 55 (Fig. l) that extend past the shaft 6 at the side of thelatter nearest the feed screw, and which strips then extend below saidshaft. These Strips prevent straw from wrapping around the shaft 6 andclogging the discs 8.

In operation the rice and rice straw is fed to the center of the feedscrew from an elevator 56 and it is then distributed across the bottomof the feed chute by the screw for passage to between the pairs of discs8. These discs are rotated to move the straw over the bottom 10 andtheir inverted U or V shaped upper sides from points 12 to points 13 andthen over the apron 51. The rice drops through the perforations in discs8. The imperforate discs 9 prevent the straw from passing through, andas the straw moves to the chains 43, the fingers or forks 50 on thelatter' drag the straw over the apron and it is discharged from thescalper.

In the event an excess of material is fed to the feed screw so that itcannot be carried over bottoms 10 with sufficient speed to keep thescalper free, the excess or surplusage will automatically overow the endplates or walls 23, 24 and neither the elevator nor the scalper will beclogged. This overow will pass downwardly over the outer sides of thesaid plates to mingle with the rice that is discharged through theopenings in discs S or, if desired, it can be kept separate. In anyevent, the safety feature of having this structure which enables thescalper to be relieved of the surplusage is very valuable since itinsures against the clogging of the elevator, and the likelihood of a rebeing created due to such clogging.

The provision of the rakcs for keeping the perforated discs free fromclogging insures eicient clearing of the screens or perforated plates 8.

I claim:

l. A scalper comprising a pair of vertically disposed, horizontallyspaced, coaxial, circular, perforated discs supported for rotation abouttheir common axis, an arcuately extending stationary bottom wallextending across the space between said discs along their lowerperipheral edges and extending along the peripheries of said discs topoints respectively at opposite sides of said axis, feed means forfeeding grain and the like outo said bottom wall at one of said points,means for rotating said discs for movement of ltheir said peripheraledges along said bottom wall to the other of said points, a rakeextending between said discs and over the end of said bottom wall atsaid other of said points, means for moving said rake outwardly frombetween said discs for drawing straw and other material'that was mixedwith said grain from the space between said discs and for discharging itoutwardly of said space, said rake being an elongated generallyhorizontally extending endless member providing an upper and a lowerflight and outwardly projecting tines on said flights spaced along thelengths of the latter, a shaft supporting said discs for rotation and towhich they are secured, said endless member being a chain, a tubularspacer on said shaft between said discs and a second shaft outwardly ofsaid discs supported for rotation, a sprocket wheel secured on said lastmentioned shaft and said chain extending over said spacer and saidsprocket wheel, the means for actuating said rake being a motorconnected with the shaft supporting said discs and with said secondshaft.

2. A scalper comprising a pair of vertically disposed, horizontallyspaced, coaxial, circular, perforated discs supported for rotation abouttheir common axis, an arcuately extending stationary bottom wallextending across the space between said discs along their lowerperipheral edges and extending along the peripheries of said discs topoints respectively at opposite sides of said axis, feed means forfeeding grain and the like onto said bottom wall at one of said points,means for rotating said discs for movement of their said peripheraledges along said bottom wall to the other of said points, a rakeextending between said discs and over the end of said bottom wall atsaid other of said points, means for moving said rake outwardly frombetween said discs for drawing straw and other material that was mixedwith said grain from the space between said discs and for discharging itoutwardly of said space, the end of said bottom wall at said other ofsaid points being positioned at substantially the same level as that ofsaid axis and said feed means including a rotary feed screw extendingtransversely across lthe edges of said disc, a feed chute in which saidscrew is positioned and end walls at the ends of said screw terminatingat their upper ends in free edges about even with the axis of rotationof said screw to pass surplus material thereover in the event of an oversupply of such material to said screw.

3. A scalper comprising a row of pairs of vertically disposed,horizontally spaced, coaxial, circular, perforated discs, a rotatableshaft supporting said discs for rotation and to which they are secured,an arcuately extending stationary bottom wall for each pair of discsextending across the space between each pair along their lowerperipheral edges and extending along the pcripheries of the discs ofeach pair from a point at one side of said shaft to a point at the otherside thereof, an inclined feed chute extending upwardly and outwardlyfrom each bottom wall from said one point of each and extending alongsaid row of discs from end to end thereof, a rotary feed screw alsoextending along said row and from end to end thereof and disposedoutwardly of said disc above and adjacent to the upper side of said feedchute, a vertical wall at each end of said chute extending upwardly fromthe latter and terminating in free upper edges at the ends of said feedscrew over which surplus material is adapted to pass in the event of anoverfeed of material to said screw and a passageway alongside saidvertical wall at each end of said chute for conducting said surplusmaterial to said bottom wall at the end discs of said row of pairsthereof.

4. A scalper comprising a row of pairs of vertically disposed,horizontally spaced, coaxial, circular, `perforated discs, a rotatableshaft supporting said discs` for rotation and to which they are secured,an arcuately extending stationary bottom wall `for each pair of discsextending across the space between each pair along their lowerperipheral edges and'extending along the peripheries of the discs ofeach pair from a point at one side of said shaft to a point at the otherside thereof, an inclined feed chute extending upwardly and outwardlyfrom each bottom wall from said one point of each and extending alongsaid row of discs from end to end thereof, a rotary feed screw alsoextending along said row and from end to end thereof and disposedoutwardly of said discs above and adjacent to the upper side of saidfeed chute, a vertical wall at each end of said chute extending upwardlyfrom the latter and terminating in free upper edges at the ends of saidfeed screw over which surplus material is adapted' to pass in the eventof an over feed of material to said screw, a stationary guard plateextending vertically between the discs of each pair to a point belowsaid shaft and said screw.

5. A scalper comprising a row of pairs of vertically disposed,horizontally spaced, coaxial, circular, perforated discs, a rotatableshaft supporting said discs for rotation and to which they are secured,an arcuately extending stationary bottom wall for each pair of discsextending across the space between each pair along their lowerperipheral edges and extending along the peripheries of 25 the discs ofeach pair from a point at one side of said shaft to a point at the otherside thereof, an inclined feed chute extending upwardly and outwardlyfrom each and adjacent to the upper side of said `feed'chute, a

vertical wall at each end of said chute extending upwardly from thelatter and terminating in free upper edges at the ends of said feedscrew over which surplus materialis adapted to pass in the event of anover feed of material to said screw, the level of the bottom walls atthe ends thereof that are at said other side of said shaft being atapproximately the level of said shaft and a rake between each pair ofdiscs extending from said shaft and over the end of each first mentionedpoint, said rake being movable in direction away from said shaft fordischarging straw and the like from between said discs, means mountingsaid rake for such movement thereof, means for so moving said rake, andmeans for rotating the shaft carrying said discs for moving such strawover such bottom wall to said rake.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,447,912 Travis Mar. 6, 1923 1,813,519 Varusky July 7, 1931 1,989,687Gray Feb. 5, 1935

